The Irish Question

Are Ireland’s workers and small businesses paying more—and getting less? Eddie Punch returns to The Irish Question with Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about citizenship, the cost of living and Ireland’s political direction. Recorded ahead of the Budget 2027 announcement, the panel discusses minimum wage increases, employer PRSI, rising business costs and whet...

The Irish Question Mini Podcast Series — No. 2Who is being allocated social and affordable housing in Louth? In this episode, Elaine is joined by Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane McGuinness to discuss his request for a breakdown, by nationality, of people allocated social and affordable housing by Louth County Council. We discuss why this information matters, the need for transparency, and how elected...

Is Ireland making it impossible to run a small business—and giving its young people every reason to leave? Declan Ganley joins Nick Delehanty, Paul Treyvaud and Elaine Mullally for a fiery discussion about the pressure on Irish businesses, the cost of living and the future facing the next generation. Nick speaks candidly about closing his dog daycare business and responds to The Irish Times’ cover...

Political scientist and author Eoin O’Malley joins Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about Ireland’s media, political leadership and the issues dividing the country. The panel tackles the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy, the backlash against Robbie Keane, coverage of Dublin’s housing statistics, rising fuel prices and whether carbon taxes are achieving any...

“I don’t want to agree with you… but I’m finding myself agreeing with you more than I should.”Political scientist and author Eoin O’Malley joins Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about Ireland’s media, political leadership and the issues dividing the country. The panel tackles the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy, the backlash against Robbie Keane, coverage...

Who is getting Dublin’s social housing—and what can Ireland learn from Sweden’s election? This week on The Irish Question, Nick Delehanty, Elaine Mullally and Paul Treyvaud welcome special guest Donal Byrne, entrepreneur, founder of The Big Red Barn, beef farmer and publican. We examine the Dublin City Council housing figures released by Councillor Gavin Pepper, question the media response, and de...

This week on The Irish Question , Nick Delehanty, Elaine Mullally and Paul Treyvaud are joined by special guest David Quinn—one of Ireland’s best-known commentators on politics, religion, family and cultural change. The panel celebrates Katie Taylor’s remarkable Croke Park homecoming and discusses the importance of faith throughout her career. They also examine the rise of AfD in Germany, Donald T...

The Irish Question is back. In our first episode after the summer break, Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty discuss the controversy surrounding Dr Ebun Joseph, critical race theory, migration across Europe, Ireland’s IPAS system and the influence of State-funded NGOs. The conversation also covers the proposed male-lactation conference, climate policy, flooding and infrastructure, th...

In a recent discussion, with Elaine Mullally, Dr. Marcus De Brun and Dr. Billy Ralph shared their experiences with the Irish Medical Council hearings that have garnered significant attention. Their stories reveal not just the personal toll of these hearings but also the broader implications for medical professionals and public health policies. The Context of the HearingsDr. Marcus De Brun began by...

Senator Sharon Keogan joins Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for the final episode of The Irish Question before the summer break. The panel discusses Mayo’s historic All-Ireland victory, the renewed controversy surrounding former RTÉ Director-General Dee Forbes, Elon Musk’s clash with The Economist, Ireland’s attitude towards wealth and success, and the Government’s Summer Economi...

Is Ireland becoming less safe—and has the political system lost control of crime, borders and public trust? This week on The Irish Question , Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty are joined by Councillor Linda de Courcy for a blunt discussion about public safety, policing shortages, bail, crime statistics and Ireland’s approach to citizenship. The panel examines the violence witnessed...

This week’s episode focuses on RTÉ, examining the broadcaster’s financial difficulties, leadership, editorial direction, and declining quality of programming. The hosts question RTÉ’s independence and impartiality, raising concerns about perceived political favouritism, censorship, and bias in its coverage of immigration, crime, and other contentious issues. The discussion also explores the declin...

Ireland is asking hard questions. In this episode, Paul Treyvaud, Nick Delehanty, Declan Ganley, and Elaine Mullally discuss the alleged dog cruelty controversy, immigration and welfare concerns, political transparency, rising crime, pressure on small businesses, and the growing debate around Irish identity, culture, and national values. We also cover the Irish-filmed Hollywood project Young Washi...

In this episode, Irish MEP Michael McNamara shares candid views on Europe’s migration policies, Ireland’s political system, and the economic pressures facing the continent. He discusses the EU returns directive, return hubs, immigration challenges, energy policy, industrial competitiveness, and Ireland’s role within the EU.KEY TOPICS The EU returns directive and Ireland’s opt-in/opt-out position R...

This week on The Irish Question, Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally, Nick Delehanty, and special guest Stephen “Cowboy” Kelly dig into another packed week of politics, media, social change, and life in modern Ireland. From the campaign to abolish the USC, to Nick’s visit to Leinster House, the growing power of social media voices, government funding of mainstream media, immigration concerns, NGOs, ene...

Nick, Paul, and Elaine examine the aftermath of the recent horror attack in Belfast and discuss its potential implications for security, community relations, and political cooperation across both the United Kingdom and Ireland. They explore how leaders on both sides of the Irish Sea may respond and what the incident could mean for public confidence and future policy. The conversation also turns to...

Paul, Elaine and Mark are joined by Dr. Marcus de Brun for a wide-ranging conversation on his personal journey, his public fight, and the issues shaping Ireland, the UK and the wider world. In this episode, the panel discusses Dr. de Brun’s story and experiences, the controversy around Ireland’s Re-turn Deposit Return Scheme , the recent murders and public safety concerns in the UK and Ireland, an...

Join Nick, Paul, Elaine, and guest host Eddie Punch for the latest episode of Irish Question, as they unpack the recent by-elections and the political fallout that followed. The panel also looks at the very different media treatment of two killings in Dublin, asking what those contrasts reveal about politics, policing, and public debate in Ireland. Plus, there is plenty more discussion on the stor...

This week, Declan, Elaine and Paul dive into some of the biggest stories making headlines and sparking debate across Ireland and the UK. They discuss reports around Ukrainians being offered financial incentives to return home, the growing political pressure on Keir Starmer and whether he can hold his position, and the shocking wave of staff resignations in protest at the ongoing issues surrounding...

This week on The Irish Question, Paul Treyvaud, Nick Delehanty and Elaine Mullally tackle some of the biggest issues facing Ireland and Europe right now — from terror warnings and rising public safety concerns to immigration policy, housing pressure, and the growing frustration with government leadership. The panel discuss recent attacks across Europe, Ireland’s changing social landscape, and why...

In this explosive episode, Declan, Elaine, Nick and Paul dive headfirst into one of the most controversial debates in Ireland right now — Micheál Martin’s latest comments on children and transgender identity. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. The group also tackles the rise in lone wolf attacks across Europe, escalating anti-social behaviour in Dún Laoghaire, concerns about public safety, a...

Declan, Paul, Nick and Elaine are back with another no-nonsense episode tackling the stories shaping Ireland right now. This week, the panel dives into Leo Varadkar and the growing backlash over policies impacting farmers and rural communities, breaking down what it means for life beyond the cities. They also unpack the fallout from the recent fuel protests — who’s feeling the pressure, what’s cha...

In this episode, Elaine, Nick, Declan, and Sarah sit down to unpack some of the biggest stories shaping Ireland and Europe right now. From the growing fuel protests and what they mean for everyday people, to a deep dive into the upcoming EU elections and the stakes involved, nothing is off the table. The panel also breaks down the latest developments in Irish politics, including the tensions surro...

Declan and Elaine discuss the government’s outrageous breach of trust and care to the Defence Forces as the government announces its plan to deploy elements of the Army against Ireland’s peaceful fuel protests.

Nick , Declan , Elaine and Paul return for a wide-ranging and lively discussion as tensions rise across the country. With fuel protests escalating and demonstrators blocking roads in response to soaring prices, the panel dives into whether this is the beginning of a broader national disruption—and whether the government’s response has been decisive enough. Protesters are demanding price caps and u...